DU’s Strength and Conditioning Programs Earn National Accreditation
Two programs have earned one of the profession’s most significant academic distinctions, becoming the first in Colorado to do so.
The Council on Accreditation of Strength and Conditioning Education (CASCE) has accredited the University of Denver’s undergraduate strength and conditioning and fitness concentration, part of the kinesiology and sport studies major, along with its 24-credit graduate certificate in strength and conditioning and fitness coaching. That makes DU the first, and currently only, university in Colorado with CASCE-accredited programs and one of a select group of institutions with accredited offerings at both the undergraduate and post-baccalaureate levels.
The recognition puts DU in select company. CASCE, the accrediting body established by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), announced 23 newly accredited programs across 20 institutions in July, bringing the total number of accredited programs in the country to 68. Programs earn accreditation only after a rigorous peer-review process examining academic instruction, practical preparation, and hands-on coaching experience.
Recognition at the right time
Starting January 1, 2030, the educational requirements will change for candidates seeking to sit for the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®) exam, the most widely recognized credential in the field. Candidates will need a bachelor’s degree or higher in a strength and conditioning-related field from a CASCE-accredited program. Candidates with a related health degree may also meet the educational requirement through an accredited post-baccalaureate certificate, like DU’s 24-credit graduate certificate.
That deadline is still several years away, but it is already influencing how future strength and conditioning professionals think about their education. DU’s accreditation means its programs are already aligned with the new educational eligibility standards that will take effect in 2030.
“This accreditation is an important recognition of the quality of our programs, but even more importantly, it ensures our students are prepared for where the strength and conditioning profession is headed,” said Brian Gearity, professor and associate dean for academic affairs in DU’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology. “Whether students start with us as undergraduates or come to DU as working professionals, they now have an accredited path built for the next stage of their careers.”
Inside DU’s strength and conditioning programs
The undergraduate concentration pairs specialized kinesiology coursework with a required internship, giving students supervised, hands-on coaching experience before they graduate. The graduate certificate, delivered fully online, covers exercise physiology, kinesiology, athletic and performance nutrition, program design, and the psychology of athletic performance. Every student in that program also completes an internship and is paired one-on-one with an experienced coach mentor.
Clayton Kuklick, clinical associate professor in kinesiology and sport studies, led the accreditation process and site visit that made the designation possible.
“CASCE accreditation validates the intentional work that has gone into building a program grounded in both science and practice,” Kuklick said. “Our students are learning the principles behind effective strength and conditioning while gaining the hands-on experience, mentorship, and professional preparation they need to apply that knowledge in the field.”
A team effort years in the making
Accreditation of this kind does not happen quickly. It required an extensive self-study and external review process involving faculty, staff, students, and community partners across the University.
Sara Campbell, teaching assistant professor in kinesiology and sport studies, led the multifaceted internship process required for accreditation. The effort was also supported by the Graduate School of Professional Psychology, Dean Torrey Wilson, DU’s investment in its sport science laboratory, partners at DU’s Coors Fitness Center, and external partners who help provide students with meaningful applied learning experiences.
The accreditation also reflects DU’s 4D Experience, connecting academic learning with mentorship, hands-on practice, and professional purpose. In strength and conditioning, where effective coaching depends on both scientific knowledge and experience applying it, that combination is especially important.
With the accreditation now official, DU is positioned to prepare the next generation of strength and conditioning coaches and sport performance professionals as the field moves toward new educational standards for CSCS certification.
